Joe Vito: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Joe Vito

City: Wheeling

Office Sought: Trustee

Age: 40

Family: Wife Jamie, Daughters Ellie (10) and Julia (9)

Occupation: Attorney

Education: U of I Champaign BA with Distinction. Chicago-Kent College of Law J.D.

Civic Involvement: Immediate Past President of the Wheeling-Prospect Hts. Chamber, Board of Governors (9 years) of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association and Former Wheeling Plan Commissioner.

Previously elected offices held: Wheeling Trustee 2015-Present.

Incumbent: Yes, 2015

Website: N/A

Facebook: @JoeVitoWheeling

Twitter:

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?

The most important issue facing our community is to ensure the continuation of strong economic development, specifically in the Town Center area, in order to lessen the tax burden on village residents and promote the economic welfare of the Village. I intend to address this issue by continuing to promote a Village culture and support legislation that fosters business development and streamlines the permit and approval processes.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I am the best candidate for the job because (1) as the immediate past president of the Wheeling-Prospect Heights Chamber I have my finger closest to the pulse of the business community and understand their concerns and needs, (2) I am the only attorney candidate and have learned in my first term that a solid understanding of the law and litigation (which I practice daily) is an incredible asset when analyzing and considering major issues facing the Village, and (3) I have demonstrated that I am an independent Trustee who is willing to take principled (and sometimes solitary) positions. In those instances I always advocate and explain my positions clearly, yet I never make an issue personal and I never attack my fellow board members personally.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

Simply stated, my leadership style is calm and reasoned. I lead by clearly and calmly explaining principled positions and why the board should adopt them.

How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services people want?

In the 4 years I have been on the board we have always passed a balanced budget, and I would never vote for one that is not balanced. While there is always room to cut small budget items, the reality is that salaries and benefits drive nearly 80% of the budget. This is a universal issue in all cities and Villages throughout the state. On the revenue side, continued economic development to increase the commercial property tax base and increase sales taxes is something we should always promote. On the spending side, real reform must come at the state level, which we (as Trustees) must continue to advocate through our unique and close relationships with state representatives and state senators. The state statutes mandating defined retirement benefits for police, fire, and municipal workers cripples municipalities.

What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

Changing the state law to mandate defined contribution retirement plans (rather than defined benefit plans) for all newly hired police, fire, and municipal employees. The pension systems as statutorily mandated currently are unsustainable and taxpayers cannot afford the needed continual increases in the tax levies to keep pace with the increases in salaries and benefits.